Vehicle washing system having a contour-following brush with a brush rotational axis deflectable in both horizontal and vertical planes

Abstract

A vehicle washing system washes the horizontal, vertical or inclined surfaces of a vehicle driven along a path. The system includes a brush assembly having a brush and a drive system for rotating the brush about the rotational axis of the brush. A brush assembly pivot point is located at an intermediate position along the length of the brush assembly. A brush assembly suspension system enables the brush assembly to be angularly deflected in both vertical and horizontal planes and includes a vertical support element which is positioned in proximity to the vehicle path and a brush assembly standoff unit which pivotally couples the brush assembly to the vertical support element at a predetermined elevation. The brush assembly standoff unit includes a horizontal pivot unit and vertical pivot means. The horizontal pivot unit pivotally couples a first section of the standoff unit to the vertical support element to permit angular deflection of the standoff unit with respect to the vertical support element in a substantially horizontal plane. The vertical pivot unit is spaced apart from the horizontal pivot unit and pivotally couples a second section of the standoff unit to the brush assembly pivot point to permit angular deflection of the brush assembly with respect to the vertical support element within a substantially vertical plane. The rotational axis of the brush is deflected in both the vertical and horizontal planes in response to relative movement between the vehicle and the system to maintain a firm but yieldable contact between the rotating brush and the vehicle.

We claim: 
     
       1. A vehicle washing system including a contour-following rotating brush for washing horizontal, vertical or inclined surfaces on a vehicle driven along a path located in proximity to said system, said system comprising: a. a brush assembly having a length and including i. a brush having a rotational axis;   ii. means for rotating said brush about the rotational axis;   iii. a brush assembly pivot point located at an intermediate position along the length of said brush assembly;     b. brush assembly suspension means for enabling said brush assembly to be angularly deflected in both vertical and horizontal planes, including i. a vertical support element positioned in proximity to said path;   ii. brush assembly standoff means for pivotally coupling said brush assembly to said vertical support element at a predetermined elevation, including A. horizontal pivot means for pivotally coupling a first section of said standoff means to said vertical support element to permit angular deflection of said standoff means with respect to said vertical support element in a substantially horizontal plane;   B. vertical pivot means spaced apart from said horizontal pivot means for pivotally coupling a second section of said standoff means to said brush assembly pivot point to permit angular deflection of said brush assembly with respect to said vertical support element within a substantially vertical plane;   C. horizontal axis biasing means for biasing said horizontal pivot means and said brush assembly away from the path of said vehicle;   D. Vertical axis biasing means for biasing said vertical pivot means and said brush assembly downward to maintain contact between said rotating brush and said vehicle; and       c. said brush rotating means rotating said brush in a direction which produces a reaction force between said brush and a vertical surface of said vehicle such that the brush to vehicle surface reaction force opposes the downward biasing force of said vertical axis biasing means and causes upward deflection of the brush rotational axis as said vertical vehicle surface engages said brush; whereby the rotational axis of said brush is deflected in both the vertical and horizontal planes in response to relative movement between said vehicle and said system to maintain a firm but yieldable contact between said rotating brush and said vehicle.     
     
     
       2. The vehicle washing system of claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of said brush assembly is located on a first side of said brush assembly lying between said brush and said brush assembly pivot point and exerts a downward torque force on said brush. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle washing system of claim 2 wherein said brush assembly includes a second side extending beyond said pivot point and away from said first side of said brush assembly. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle washing system of claim 3 wherein said vertical axis biasing means includes third biasing means coupled to the second side of said brush assembly for exerting an upward torque force on said brush. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle washing system of claim 4 wherein said vertical axis biasing means includes means for varying the spacing between said pivot point and said third biasing means to vary the magnitude of the upward torque force on said brush. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle washing system of claim 4 wherein said vertical pivot means includes first means for limiting the maximum downward deflection of said brush assembly about said pivot point to thereby limit the maximum downward displacement of said brush. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle washing system of claim 6 wherein said first limit means includes a stop coupled to said brush assembly standoff means for engaging the second side of said brush assembly at a predetermined elevation to limit the maximum upward deflection of the second side of said brush assembly. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle washing system of claim 6 wherein said horizontal pivot means includes second limit means for limiting the maximum angular deflection of said brush assembly toward said path. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle washing system of claim 1 wherein said brush assembly standoff means maintains a substantially fixed spacing between said horizontal axis biasing means and said vertical axis biasing means. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle washing system of claim 9 wherein the first section of said brush assembly standoff means is coupled to said brush assembly standoff means by pivot means having an axis of rotation. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle washing system of claim 10 wherein said horizontal axis biasing means is provided by offsetting the axis of rotation of said pivot means from the vertical. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle washing system of claim 1 wherein said brush rotation means includes a motor having an output shaft coupled to a gear box coupled to rotate said brush. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle washing system of claim 12 wherein said brush assembly pivot point is coupled to said gear box. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle washing system of claim 12 wherein said brush rotating means includes a brush shaft having a first end coupled to the rotational axis of said brush and a second end. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle washing system of claim 14 wherein the output of said gear box is coupled to the second end of said brush shaft by a flexible coupling. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle washing system of claim 1 wherein said brush includes tapered sides.